Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Where in the World is Eric D. Goodman?

Millions of Americans are watching "Where in the world is Matt Lauer" this week. But I'm enjoying my own adventure this week in the land of enchantment.

I'm in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a communications conference. The conference is good, but the location is really worth writing about.

I flew in Friday and, immediately after checking in, I enjoyed the nightlife on Rout 66 along with hundreds of American Indians in town for the Gathering of Nations -- the world's largest pow-wow.

I took a day trip to Taos where I enjoyed the historic pueblo there -- the world's first living community still existing today. Near Taos, I hiked to two natural hot springs where I soaked in the hot mineral water in the valley and along the Rio Grande. One of the springs was believed by the Spaniards to bew the fountain of youth due to its medicinal properties.

Kasha-Katuwe's tent rock formations were a wonder: tepee-shaped mountains above and below the trail. And the Coronado monument offered a glimpse of the remains of an ancient civilization. The National Petroglyph National Monument gave a sampling of rock paintings dating back to 1,000 BC.

I rode the world's longest areal tram up to the top of the Sandia mountains, enjoyed some good, authentic food in Bernalillo at a restaurant recommended by a master bead worker I met at an American Indian art gallery. Despite my short time in a Casino, the experiences have left me feeling like a winner.

The gem of Albuquerque is Old Town. I've been to the plaza twice and plan to return again. During my first trip to Old Town, I attended a Christening at San Felipe Neri Church and ate authentic New Mexican food in the Courtyard.

Still a few days to go and so much more to see. So, where in the world will Eric D. Goodman go next? (Probably out for margaritas in the sun.)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Twentieth Annual Maryland Writers Conference

I'll be speaking at the 20th annual Maryland Writers' Conference! I'll be part of a panel discussion on marketing your writing.

There’s still time to register for the 20th annual Maryland Writers’ Conference—but just barely. The big event takes place on Saturday, May 3, 2008 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum.

Keynote speaker Thomas F. Monteleone is but one of many professional, successful writers planning to spend the day helping you reach your own writing goals. Monteleone is author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel.

Join local experts and established writers at the 20th annual Maryland Writers' Association's conference. You’ll have the opportunity to hone your craft in sessions led by established authors, instructors, and experts. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, there’s plenty for you at the conference. Come explore the many worlds of writing.

To register, or for more information, visit the conference website.

Or, if you don’t find time to register but still want to attend, just show up! The Maryland Writers’ Association will make room for you.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Two Lit-Filled Days in Baltimore

This past weekend offered a lot for lovers of literature to latch on to.

Saturday marked the fifth annual CityLit Festival, one of the region's largest celebrations of the literary arts. The event featured far too many sessions and speakers to mention here, but included Afaa Michael Weaver, Dr. Ben Carson, Laura Lippman, and authors featured in the upcoming Freshly Squeezed anthology.

The Freshly Squeezed anthology reading was well attended - more audience members than in some of the sessions featuring best-selling authors. (Talk about the local literary community supporting its own!) Authors reading their work from the new anthology from Loyola's Apprentice House included Rick Connor, Fernando Quijano III, Nicole Walton, Tamara Keurejian, Barbara Friedland, Holly Myers, Mare Cromwell, Eric D. Goodman, Nancy O. Greene, and Leo Horrigan.

And as though that wasn't enough to fill the day, the monthly 510 reading featured readings by popular authors Michael Kimball, Maude Casey, and Michael Downs.

When I drove to Sunday's Lit & Art at the Watermark event, I was surprised to see the extremely crowded streets, "event parking" signs all around, and lack of usual parking spaces. "Lit & Art has gone far," I thought. The modest crowd inside didn't correspond with the cars all around.

We were competing with the Baltmore Oriels AND the New York Yankees. And the SPCA March for Animals. And several concerts. And probably a thousand other non-literary events.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Get Lit This Weekend

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Get lit! (Literature, that is.)

This weekend’s literary offerings are fully stocked.

On Saturday, check out the fifth annual CityLit Festival. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Library in downtown Baltimore and features something for everyone. Featured guests include Afaa Michael Weaver, Dr. Ben Carson, Laura Lippman, and authors featured in the upcoming Freshly Squeezed anthology.

The Freshly Squeezed anthology reading takes place at 3:30 at the CityLit Festival. Featured authors reading their work will include Rick Connor, Fernando Quijano III, Nicole Walton, Tamara Keurejian, Barbara Friedland, Holly Myers, Mare Cromwell, Eric D. Goodman, Nancy O. Greene, and Leo Horrigan. The reading – like the festival – is free and open to the public.

And if that doesn’t fill your day, there’s another reading well worth attending after the festival ends. Head over to the Minas gallery in Hampden for the next 510 reading. The event begins at 5 p.m. and features fiction readings by authors Michael Kimball, Maude Casey, and Michael Downs.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

My Fiction Published in Freshly Squeezed

My fiction is being published in Freshly Squeezed, an anthology being published by Loyola College’s Apprentice House.

“One Last Hit” is a story from TRACKS, my novel in stories. It follows the footsteps of a hit man as he seeks out a career in crime, then just as eagerly seeks to get out.

The anthology includes more than 250 pages of select works from the Write Here Write Now Workshop Series run by the Creative Alliance and CityLit Project. The work ranges from fiction and non-fiction to poetry and plays.

Freshly Squeezed will be available in late May at Barnes & Nobel, Target, and directly from the publisher, Apprentice House. The anthology’s release party takes place at the Patterson Theater on May 28.

Contributors to the anthology will present a special pre-publication preview at this weekend’s CityLit Fest. The “Freshly Squeezed” reading takes place at 3:30 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Library in downtown Baltimore. Featured authors reading their work from the anthology include Rick Connor, Fernando Quijano III, Nicole Walton, Tamara Keurejian, Barbara Friedland, Holly Myers, Mare Cromwell, Eric D. Goodman, Nancy O. Greene, and Leo Horrigan.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Lit and Art Returns to Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Tax season may be upon us, but April does not have to be the cruelest month.

On Sunday, April 20 at 2 p.m., the Watermark Gallery in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor will continue its popular Lit and Art series. Eight local authors will present their fiction and poetry. An original collection of art by local artist Manzar will be on display.

The Maryland Writers’ Association will be present all day at the Festival—find out more about the MWA and learn how you can become a part of the organization by stopping by the booth.

Meanwhile, three of Baltimore’s most prominent literati share their brand new books at 1:00 in Pratt Library’s Wheeler Auditorium. Tom Hall, Culture Editor for WYPR’s “Maryland Morning,” talks with Dan Fesperman, The Amateur Spy; Laura Lippman, Another Thing to Fall; and Manil Suri, The Age of Shiva.

Dr. Ben Carson, world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon, shares his insight and advice from Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk. Dr. Carson presents at 3:00.

The Maryland Humanities Council’s Maryland Center for the Book honors its “Letters About Literature” contest winners from around the state at 11:00 with special guest children’s chapter book author Margaret Meacham. S. James Guitard and Victoria Christopher Murray read from and discuss their latest novels, and sports writer John Eisenberg revisits the Barbaro story in his new book.

Contributors to a new anthology based on writing from the popular “Write Here, Write Now” workshops all present special pre-publication previews of their new books. Featured authors reading their work from the anthology include Rick Connor, Fernando Quijano III, Nicole Walton, Tamara Keurejian, Barbara Friedland, Holly Myers, Mare Cromwell, Eric D. Goodman, Nancy O. Greene, and Leo Horrigan.

For families, Caldecott Honoree and New York Times bestselling children’s book author Carole Boston Weatherford shares her latest book, Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins.Programs take place throughout the library.

A complete schedule of times and locations is available at CityLit’s website below.

Friday, April 04, 2008

More Than a Writers Conference

The Second Annual Conversations and Connections Convention will help you get the connections and information you need to take your writing — and publishing — to the next level.

This year’s keynote speaker is Mary Gaitskill, author of the novels Veronica and Two Girls, Fat and Thin, and the story collections Because They Wanted To and Bad Behavior.

Gaitskill will give a reading at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Spring Event tonight, and will be the keynote speaker at the conference Saturday.

Panelists at the conference are experts in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, making connections, using the web, marketing, and everything in between.

More than 30 literary magazines will be represented.

Get the real deal straight from the editor’s mouth and advice specific to your work.

Your $45 registration fee includes the Friday night reading, full day Saturday conference, plus face-to-face “speed dating” with literary magazine editors, a subscription to the lit mag of your choice, and a book by featured speakers.

To learn more, visit the Conversations and Connections Conference website.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Be the First to Hear Fresh Work at CityLit

You can be the first to hear freshly-squeezed fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more from the first Write Here Write Now Anthology. Select authors published in the anthology will read from their work at the CityLit Festival.

The CityLit Festival is one of the most popular events in the Baltimore literary community. It takes place on April 19th, Enoch Pratt Library in downtown Baltimore.

The official release of the new anthology isn’t until late May, so this is your opportunity to get a special sneak peek at the work. The anthology includes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, even short plays. There’s something in the anthology for everyone. Featured authors reading their work will include Rick Connor, Fernando Quijano III, Nicole Walton, Tamara Keurejian, Barbara Friedland, Holly Myers, Mare Cromwell, Eric D. Goodman, Nancy O. Greene, and Leo Horrigan.

The reading takes place at 3:30 at the CityLit Festival. The reading – like the festival – is free and open to the public.